LONDON/ISLAMABAD: The office of the Archbishop of Canterbury on Thursday withdrew an interfaith award given this September 11 to Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), who praised Osama bin Laden. "...previous comments made by Imam Ashrafi have come to light that have led Lambeth Palace to reconsider this award and we can now confirm today that the award has been withdrawn.
We have contacted Imam Ashrafi to make him aware of this decision," the office announced. On the contrary, Archbishop Church of Pakistan, Dr Azad Marshall, presented "Global Peace Award" to Asharfi on Thursday. Sarah Mullally, the head of the Church of England, last week handed awards to faith leaders including Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, for "reconciliation and interfaith cooperation".
In 2007, he told "We are pleased to award the title of Saifullah (Sword of Allah) to Osama bin Laden," Ashrafi told In a statement, Ashrafi said he had been contacted a few days ago by the archbishop's office, which conveyed its reservarions over my position on the anti-blasphemy laws. Ashrafi said he had told them authorities that he could not change his position on the blasphemy laws, arguing that while their misuse should be prevented, the laws should remain as they had helped save many lives.
He also rejected an allegation that he had justified suicide attacks in Afghanistan, calling it "fake propaganda". He said the PUC had issued a fatwa against suicide attacks and the killing of innocent people during his chairmanship, and that the record was available. Regarding an old statement about Rushdie and bin Laden, Ashrafi said his remarks in 2007 were made in the context of the British government honouring Rushdie.
He said he had drawn a comparison to explain that Muslims were hurt by Rushdie being honoured just as Britain, Europe and the US would be hurt if an award were given to bin Laden. Ashrafi said his remarks had been intended to convey that Britain should have considered Muslim sensitivities before honouring Rushdie.